TEA 23 



Mate, the leaves of Ilex paraguayensis (N.O. Ilicinece), containing caffeine 

 (0-2 to 2-0 per cent.). 



Guarana, the crushed seeds of Paullinia Cupana, Humboldt, Bonpland, 

 and Kunth (N.O. Sapindacece), containing caffeine (2-5 to 5 per cent.). 



Cocoa, the seeds of Theobroma Cacao, Linne (N.O. Sterculiacece), containing 

 theobromine (2 per cent.). 



Assay. Shake 6 gm. of the dried but not powdered tea with 120 gm. of 

 chloroform for 15 minutes, add 6 c.c. of solution of ammonia, shake frequently 

 for half an hour and set aside till clear. Filter 100 gm. ( = 5 gm. of tea) into 

 a flask, distil off the chloroform, add 3 c.c. of absolute alcohol, and dry on a 

 water-bath. To the residue add 10 c.c. of 60 per cent. alcohol in which the 

 caffeine is readily soluble, then 20 c.c. of water ; shake vigorously, filter through 

 a small filter, wash the residue and filter, evaporate, dry at 95, and weigh. 

 The weight of the residue multiplied by 20 gives the percentage of total caffeine. 



Adulterations. Tea has been adulterated with foreign leaves, 

 as well as with exhausted tea leaves that have been rolled and 

 dried. For details concerning the detection of adulterations in tea, 

 the student should refer to Allen's ' Commercial Organic Analysis,' 

 Vol. III., Part II. 



Uses. The chief pharmaceutical use of tea is as a source of caffeine 

 which has a marked stimulant action on the nervous system and 

 heart, and is also diuretic but less powerfully so than theobromine. 



Allied Drugs. Abyssinian, Arabian or African tea consists of the 

 leaves of Catha edulis Forskal (N.O. Celastrinece) ; it contains the 

 alkaloids cathine, cathinine and cathidine. 



Bush tea is the leaves of various species of Cyclopia (N.O. 

 Leguminosce) ; it is used in S. Africa. 



Marsh tea is the leaves of Ledum palustre, Linne (N.O. Ericaceae). 



Kaporie tea is the leaves of Epilobium angustifolium, Linne (N.O. 

 Onagracece). 



None of these contains caffeine. 



COCA LEAVES 



(Folia Cocae) 



Source, &C. The coca shrub, Erythroxylum Coca, Lamarck, and 

 E. truxillense, Rusby (N.O. Linece) has been cultivated in Peru and 

 Bolivia for so long that the plant is not known in the wild state. It 

 is cultivated also in Java and formerly to a limited extent in Ceylon. 

 The dried leaves are in almost daily use in Peru and Bolivia as a nerve- 

 stimulant ; mixed with lime or with the ashes of a species of Cheno- 

 podium and chewed they impart unusual powers of endurance, 

 allaying the cravings of hunger and the feeling of fatigue. On the 

 steep sides of the valleys in the spurs of the Andes the coca is culti- 



